The Wayro route from Tepic to Matehuala is 446 miles (718 km), about 8 h 15 min of driving without stops.
| Distance by road | 446 mi (718 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | MEX-15D → MEX-15 → MEX-80D → MEX-80 → MEX-70 → MEX-57D → SLP 32 → MEX-57 |
| Mexican states on the route | Nayarit, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| Toll roads (as marked in OpenStreetMap) | MEX-15D, MEX-80D, MEX-57D |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving this route in a car with U.S. plates
| Temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) | Required: this route is outside the zones where U.S.-registered cars can skip the temporary import permit (Baja California, Baja California Sur and part of Sonora) |
|---|---|
| Mexican auto insurance | Required for all vehicles: buy a Mexican policy before you drive |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Mexico travel information (updated August 11, 2026); permits are issued by Banjercito.
The Tepic–Matehuala drive in a few lines
MEX-15D (125 mi) and MEX-80D (115 mi) carry about 54% of the 446 miles. It runs through 4 states: Nayarit, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí. OpenStreetMap marks tolled sections on MEX-15D, MEX-80D and MEX-57D. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Tepic to Matehuala: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Nayarit |
| MEX-15D | 5–110 | 105 | Nayarit, Jalisco |
| MEX-15 | 110–122 | 12 | Jalisco |
| MEX-15D | 122–142 | 20 | Jalisco |
| connecting roads | 142–144 | 2 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 144–217 | 73 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80 | 217–249 | 32 | Jalisco |
| MEX-80D | 249–291 | 42 | Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-80 | 291–294 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-70 | 294–311 | 17 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 311–321 | 10 | San Luis Potosí |
| connecting roads | 321–324 | 3 | San Luis Potosí |
| SLP 32 | 324–333 | 9 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 333–345 | 12 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57D | 345–367 | 22 | San Luis Potosí |
| MEX-57 | 367–445 | 78 | San Luis Potosí |
| local roads | 445–446 | 1 | San Luis Potosí |
- Mile 62 of this route: Nayarit → Jalisco (state line)
- Mile 274 of this route: Jalisco → Guanajuato (state line)
- Mile 285 of this route: Guanajuato → San Luis Potosí (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Tepic and Matehuala
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara (mile 124), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 240), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 240)
- Museums and history: Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (mile 81), National Museum of Tequila (mile 89), Guachimontones (mile 96), Guadalajara Cathedral (mile 126), Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque (mile 129), Teatro José Rosas Moreno (mile 240), Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (mile 240), San Luis Potosí Cathedral (mile 326)
Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería
In the municipality of Magdalena, Mexico, an interpretive museum focuses on two subjects: the agave landscape and mining.
National Museum of Tequila
The National Museum of Tequila (MUNAT) in the town of Tequila tells the story of the spirit that put this corner of Jalisco on the map. The state government took it back in 2026 and announced a reopening with refreshed exhibits.
Guachimontones
Near the town of Teuchitlán, Guachimontones is known for its circular structures. INAH describes it as the first large population center in western Mexico, emerging around 1000 BC, with two ball courts and about 40 circular buildings across 20 hectares.
Statue of Minerva, Guadalajara
At a roundabout fountain in Guadalajara, a bronze statue of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom, stands on a large pedestal inscribed with the names of 18 notable citizens.
Guadalajara Cathedral
In the Centro of Guadalajara, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is the seat of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara and a minor basilica.
Museo Regional de la Ceramica, Tlaquepaque
Ceramics lovers in central Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, can find the Museo Regional de la Cerámica on Independencia Street. Along with the Pantaleón Panduro Museum, it is one of the city's two principal pottery museums.
Teatro José Rosas Moreno
Named after Jalisco writer José Rosas Moreno, this theater in Lagos de Moreno took decades to finish: work started in 1867, and it opened on May 5, 1907.
Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera
The Museo Casa Agustín Rivera Altos de Jalisco is a museum you'll find in the town of Lagos de Moreno, in the state of Jalisco.
San Luis Potosí Cathedral
San Luis Potosí's cathedral anchors the city's historic center, which UNESCO lists as a component of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro World Heritage Site.
Once you reach Matehuala
Matehuala Cathedral
Still open for worship, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral serves as the seat of the Catholic Diocese of Matehuala, a city in the state of San Luis Potosí.
More drives to Matehuala
- Zitácuaro to Matehuala
- Mexico City to Matehuala
- Pachuca to Matehuala
- Cuernavaca to Matehuala
- Tlaxcala to Matehuala
- Cuautla to Matehuala
From Tepic to other places in Mexico
- Tepic to Amatitán
- Tepic to Ajijic
- Tepic to Tepatitlán
- Tepic to Temacapulín
- Tepic to Nochistlán
- Tepic to San Juan de los Lagos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Tepic to Matehuala?
About 8 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 446 miles.
How far is Matehuala from Tepic by car?
About 446 miles (718 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Do I need a permit to drive my U.S. car from Tepic to Matehuala?
Yes. A temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) is required for a U.S.-registered car on this route, which is outside the zones where it can be skipped. Mexican auto insurance is required for every vehicle.
Is it safe to drive from Tepic to Matehuala?
The U.S. State Department rates Nayarit Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Jalisco Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Guanajuato Level 3: Reconsider Travel; San Luis Potosí Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (advisory issued May 29, 2026). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tepic to Matehuala?
In order: MEX-15D, MEX-15, MEX-80D, MEX-80, MEX-70, MEX-57D, SLP 32 and MEX-57. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tepic to Matehuala?
Closest to the road: Museo Interpretativo del Paisaje Agavero y la Minería (museum, mile 81, 0.5 mi from the route); Teatro José Rosas Moreno (opera house, mile 240, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de los Altos de Jalisco, Casa Agustín Rivera (museum, mile 240, 0.5 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on September 29, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.